She walked into my classroom as just another student. She passed by on the way to her seat, quietly. It wasn't too long before I could tell she was a great student. She had that connection with what was going on that told the teacher she was "with you." She understood.
Soon she was a superstar, working on the yearbook in her photography class, and very quickly becoming the editor of the book her senior year.
Her senior year was rough, and I've never worried more about a student that year than I did for her. She made it through though. That's what she does - she's tough.
We've stayed close ever since I watched her graduate. My wife and I go to movies with her and her boyfriend, I cook them dinner, and even though we are from a different generation, we find endless things to talk about.
She's changed my life. She's made me realize that you really do meet people, out of the blue, that you accept as family. She really is family in the true sense of the word.
I worry about her like I worry about my neice. I sometimes think back and wonder if she knows how much fun I had in school with her, and how I miss her being there, even two years later. The classroom just doesn't feel right without her being there.
There are new, amazing, powerful, and scary things going on in her life right now, and I hope she knows that my wife and I will be here for her if she ever needs us. Jessica has faced impossible odds, over and over, and has come through each time a better person for it. She has taught me the value of determination, of looking at the bright side of things, and of never giving up, even when everything in the world tells you to. When I have bad days, sometimes I think of how Jess might deal with things.
Casey and I love you, Jess. We know the best is still ahead for you, and we can't wait to watch it unfold. We'll be there taking pictures, cooking you dinners, and having a blast the whole time.
Enjoy this new chapter in your life. We'll be there by your side.
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